Durham Tech BOT member proud alumna of Durham’s three higher ed institutions

Since moving to Durham at 14, Gracie Johnson-Lopez has witnessed Durham’s growth and progression. 

"I experienced the segregated Durham, the manufacturing-to-industrialized Durham and the relentless Durham which refuses to settle,” she said. “I love the ways in which Durham continues to evolve and its rich history and diverse culture.”  

Durham also was home to the educational institutions that put Johnson-Lopez on the path to becoming founder and president of Diversity & HR Solutions.

The Durham Tech Board of Trustees member is a proud alumna of the community college, North Carolina Central University and Duke University.

“I am a self-proclaimed Blue Devil fanatic and have maintained continuous involvement with the university through the Duke Black Alumni Association earning my master’s degree from Duke,” said Johnson-Lopez, who is founder and president of Diversity & HR Solutions. “I am also a proud alum of Durham Tech, where I earned an associate of applied science degree in business.”  

Durham Tech has held a special place with Johnson-Lopez since she started at the College as a teenager.

“Durham Tech has been a hidden jewel in the Durham community for many years, and always with the community at its heart,” she said. “As a 16-year-old high school graduate, it was at Durham Tech that I found a solid and safe foundation to explore and nurture my academic pursuits. The College has a proven history as a beacon of hope for all students, especially non-traditional students. My educational road map started at Durham Tech and provided the building blocks to my continued journey to NCCU and Duke University.”

After receiving her associate degree from Durham Tech, Johnson-Lopez received a Bachelor of Arts in public administration from North Carolina Central University before attending Duke from 1994 to 1996, where she earned her master’s degree in liberal studies with a focus on law and culture.

Johnson-Lopez's core values around diversity and inclusion made Duke a good fit for graduate school, she said.

“After starting my professional career in HR at Duke University, I was greatly influenced by its commitment to excellence. Duke was and remains an organization willing to critically evaluate itself and its complex relationship to varying communities,” she said. "Duke was also beginning to move beyond conversations on workplace culture to action-oriented solutions. I am honored to be among the inaugural eight Inclusion Champions selected and sponsored by Duke in 1995.”

The Inclusion Champions initiative focuses on identifying individuals who demonstrate exemplary leadership toward inclusive excellence and who have a high level of respect for and service to others.

Johnson-Lopez's ties to Durham Tech, NCCU and Duke have given her a unique perspective on how the three institutions impact the community through their work and collaborations.

“The collaborative partnerships among the institutions align with their commitment to Durham and surrounding areas to address complex opportunities,” she said. “These institutions recognize historical and systemic discrimination and are engaged in creating pathways to build a more equitable Durham. They understand the challenges and opportunities relating to talent and workforce development, public education and economic development.  We are fortunate to have visionary leadership in higher education here who demonstrate their commitment to addressing the evolving needs of a dynamic and diverse Durham.”

Durham Tech President J.B. Buxton said Johnson-Lopez through her work with diversity and inclusion has had an impact on all three institutions, as well as the community.

“Gracie’s passion for Durham is infectious,” Buxton said. “Her continued relationship with all her alma maters reflects her commitment to helping the institutions and Durham embrace diversity and inclusion. Durham Tech has benefited from her insight and guidance, first with the Foundation and now with the College Board of Trustees. We are grateful for her continued involvement with Durham Tech and her ongoing service to our community.”